Has anyone tried the open-egg hatch method before? (HELP)

[ChickensAreGoat]

Why would you want to mess with nature, leave it alone

I know it reduces chance of hatch, but it’s just an experiment, not trying to cause harm or anything.

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

Well… putting eggs in an incubator isn’t one of the most unnatural things you could do but you get my point

I was going to say that as well lol

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

It's long, but I tried this multiple times a few years ago and learned a lot. Here is my entire thread, it would probably be helpful to read through it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-read-whole-thread-before-attempting.1371380/

Best of luck, I've never seen where anyone was actually successful without a lab setting. It's very hard to keep everything sterile.

Thanks a lot! I have a question though, mine has had a heartbeat for about a week. It hasn’t developed at all in about 5 days, but the heart is still beating. It’s about 3/4 inches wide, and there’s no veins in the egg, but it has a really big red stripe going over the top and maybe all around it. The pictures are (1) a picture of that egg that I just candled and (2&3) another egg the same age that I just candled. The tape on it doesn’t look good, but I’m going to fix it soon lol.

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

There is sterile (no microbial life of any sort) and then there is very clean. Trying to maintain sterility for 3 weeks is impossible save in certain bio secure labs. Eggs have amazing defense mechanisms, the shell is only the first layer. If you can keep it clean, it has a decent chance. The biggest issues is oxygen as the embryo matures, if it was a plastic cup you’d need supplemental O2 but maybe the intact shell negates that need here? I really want to try this now but not sure I can open a quail egg without crushing it! Will watch with interest! And as for the why, because it is awesome and can teach you a lot about embryonic development!

It’s probably in the really-super clean category lol. I definitely have learned a lot too! Thanks!

 

[No Coop No Problem]

The reason I originally decided to try it because we don’t eat any of the eggs, they all go to my sister or fed back to the flock. Either way, they were going to be food

My chickens are also food. That's why I try to make their lives as happy as possible and to minimize the suffering they experience. I would never turn babies into a dangerous experiment for my amusement

Life is sacred and worthy of respect, especially life that provides for my family

 

[Karilcole]

Thanks a lot! I have a question though, mine has had a heartbeat for about a week. It hasn’t developed at all in about 5 days, but the heart is still beating. It’s about 3/4 inches wide, and there’s no veins in the egg, but it has a really big red stripe going over the top and maybe all around it. The pictures are (1) a picture of that egg that I just candled and (2&3) another egg the same age that I just candled. The tape on it doesn’t look good, but I’m going to fix it soon lol.

You don’t see any vessels? What about looking in the top? Any movement that you can see? I took a video that I can share with you if you would like.

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

I know this. I respect chicken’s lives very much. But this isn’t a large scale experiment, and I’m doing all I can to help the chick to survive. I mean no offense to anyone by doing this.

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

You don’t see any vessels? What about looking in the top? Any movement that you can see? I took a video that I can share with you if you would like.

No movement or vessels. I took this picture a few days ago and it looks the same now. The chick is off to the side so I can’t get a picture of it, but I’m looking at it right now from like a few feet away and I can see the heartbeat reflecting light. If I look closer, it’s way clearer, but I would still need I crazy good camera to see it lol.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know this. I respect chicken’s lives very much. But this isn’t a large scale experiment, and I’m doing all I can to help the chick to survive. I mean no offense to anyone by doing this.

No matter what you do someone will be offended. That's the world we live in. Try to not let them ruin your day, enjoy the process, learn a few things, and good luck.

 

[ChickensAreGoat]

No matter what you do someone will be offended. That's the world we live in. Try to not let them ruin your day, enjoy the process, learn a few things, and good luck.

Yeah, sometimes happens. Thanks for the advice!